Former Obama housing chief Julian Castro joins 2020 campaign

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro speaks during a house party at the Ed and Jane Cranston home, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in North Liberty, Iowa. (Source: AP)

January 12, 2019 at 1:05 PM EST - Updated May 1 at 4:59 PM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Former Obama housing chief Julian Castro is now in the 2020 Democratic race for president, and he could end up being the only Latino in what’s expected to be a crowded field of White House contenders.

The 44-year-old Castro kicked off his campaign Saturday in San Antonio, his hometown. He announced his official entry in the race during an event in a Spanish-style plaza less than 200 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

President Donald Trump visited Texas this past week to press his case for a border wall. He's demanding billions from Congress to build a barrier that's the sticking point in what's now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

Castro was San Antonio mayor for five years and was housing secretary during President Barack Obama’s second term.

This trip, the first of two President Donald Trump is expected to make to Japan in the next six weeks, is more of a social call meant to highlight the alliance between Japan and the United States and the friendship between their leaders.